Oral Mucosal Diseases Flashcards
What is the referral pathway for anything that the dentist thinks might be cancer or dysplasia?
2 week cancer referral pathway for actual malignancies
NICE & SIGN head & neck cancer guidelines
What is atrophy in mucosal reactions?
Reduction in viable layers
What is erosion in mucosal reactions?
Partial thickness loss
What is ulceration in a mucosal reaction?
Fibrin of surface
Lost epithelium completely
What is oedema in mucosal reactions?
Intracellular- each cell is slightly bigger and more filled with fluid
Intercellular (spongiosis)- between the cells
What is blister in mucosal reactions?
Vesicle or bulla (depends on lesion size)
Collections of fluid within or just below the epithelium
What is geographic tongue?
Whole areas of the epithelial surface are replaced at a single occasion, it halts the epithelial replication so that the continuing loss of cells from the tongue without replication results in thinning of the epithelial layer
What are the symptoms of geographic tongue?
sensitive with spicy/acidic foods
intermittent
much worse in young children
sometimes none
What is a black hairy tongue aetiology?
Can be due to bacterial colonisation of the tongue
Many cases it is due to the elongation of papillae which are then becoming stained with pigments from food stuff
What is the management of a black hairy tongue?
Removing the elongated papillae on the tongue by either
–sucking on a peach stone or nectarine stone for an hour a day
–tongue scraper
What investigations are required for glossitis?
Haematinics
Fungal cultures
no specific change that can be matched to deficiencies
What is glossitis?
Inflammation of the tongue but it more looks like atrophy of the tongue
Tongue which does not look normal
When should you refer swellings?
Symptomatic (pain is a feature of salivary gland malignancy)
Abnormal overlying and surrounding mucosa
Increasing in size
‘Rubbery’ consistency
Trauma from teeth
Unsightly
What is a Pyogenic Granuloma ?
Granulation tissue- mixed inflammatory infiltrate on fibro-vascular background
Any mucosal site
Response to trauma
